Two Saturday Games on NBC – (3) Blues-(2) Wild at 3 p.m. ET, Followed by (1) Canadiens-(WC1) Rangers at 8 p.m. ET

Brian Gionta and Mike Rupp Join NHL Live as Guest Analysts This Weekend

Tonight’s Pre-Game Coverage Includes Feature on Inspiring Story of Denna Laing and Bobby Carpenter Uniting for Boston Marathon

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 21, 2017 – NBC Sports Group will present up to seven NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games this weekend, including up to three games on NBC, highlighted by a Saturday primetime matchup on NBC at 8 p.m. ET, when the (WC1) New York Rangers look to advance to the second round with a Game 6 win against the (1) Montreal Canadiens.

This weekend’s coverage begins tonight at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN, when the (1) Washington Capitals host the (WC2) Toronto Maple Leafs in a pivotal Game 5 with their series tied 2-2. Tonight’s coverage on USA Network at 7:30 p.m. ET features the (3) Boston Bruins at (2) Ottawa Senators, as Ottawa looks to advance to the second round with a Game 5 victory.

Saturday’s coverage starts at 3 p.m. ET on NBC with a Game 5 clash between the (3) St. Louis Blues and (2) Minnesota Wild, with the Blues leading the series 3-1. NBCSN presents Game 6 of the (2) Edmonton Oilers and (3) San Jose Sharks series on Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET, as the Oilers look to close out the Sharks in San Jose.

On Sunday, NBCSN will televise Game 6 of the Maple Leafs-Capitals series at 7 p.m. ET. NBC will present coverage of Game 6 between the Senators and Bruins, if necessary, at 3 p.m. ET.

“NHL Playoff Pass” on NBC Sports Group Press Box provides a quick daily overview of Stanley Cup Playoff coverage, plus information and highlights. The Pass will be published weekdays to preview that evening’s games. Friday editions will include weekend information.

NBCSN, CNBC, USA NETWORK, NBCSPORTS.COM, AND THE NBC SPORTS APP TO PROVIDE SIDE-BY-SIDE COVERAGE OF FIRST-ROUND GAMES IN LOCAL MARKETS FOR FIRST TIME

For the first time since NBC Sports Group acquired NHL rights prior to the 2005-06 season, coverage of Stanley Cup Playoff first-round games on NBCUniversal cable networks (NBCSN, CNBC, USA Network) as well as NHL Network, will air side-by-side in local markets alongside regional sports network game telecasts. In addition, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will provide streaming coverage of every first-round game. Prior to this season, NBC Sports’ national first-round cable telecasts were blacked out in all local U.S. markets. (Local television and streaming blackouts will still apply in Boston and Pittsburgh in the first round).

BRIAN GIONTA AND MIKE RUPP JOIN NHL LIVE AS GUEST ANALYSTS THIS WEEKEND

Sabres captain Brian Gionta and former NHL forward Mike Rupp will serve as guest analysts on NHL Live this weekend. Gionta recently concluded his 15th NHL season, and his third with the Sabres. Gionta has played for Buffalo, Montreal, and New Jersey, and was a member of the Devils team which won the Stanley Cup in 2003. He will join the studio team tonight.

Rupp was also a member of the Stanley Cup-winning Devils in 2003, and played for six NHL teams during the course of his NHL career from 2002-2014. Rupp currently serves as an analyst for NHL Network and Root Sports in Pittsburgh. He will join the studio team tomorrow and Sunday.

TONIGHT’S PRE-GAME COVERAGE INCLUDES FEATURE ON INSPIRING STORY OF DENNA LAING AND BOBBY CARPENTER UNITING FOR BOSTON MARATHON

Tonight’s pre-game coverage will include a feature on former Boston Pride forward Denna Laing and former NHL star Bobby Carpenter, who recently teamed together to participate in the Boston Marathon. Laing, who was paralyzed playing in a NWHL game, completed the marathon with Carpenter, who pushed Laing’s wheelchair to the finish in 4:32:30. The tandem raised more than $80,000 for Journey Forward, a nonprofit devoted to improving the lives of those affected by spinal cord injuries.

Game coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET, when the Capitals and Maple Leafs clash in the nation’s capital in a pivotal Game 5 matchup. Washington tied the series 2-2 with a 5-4 win in Game 4 in Toronto. Alex Ovechkin scored for the third consecutive game in Game 4, while Auston Matthews scored his second goal of the series for Toronto in the loss.

Ottawa will look to punch its ticket to the second round with a Game 5 win at home tonight against Boston at 7:30 p.m. ET on USA Network. Bobby Ryan scored the game-winning goal for the second consecutive game in Game 4, while Craig Anderson stopped 22 shots to give the Sens a 1-0 victory.

SATURDAY, APRIL 22

Coverage begins at 3 p.m. ET on NBC, as the Blues look to advance to the second round with a win against the Wild in Game 5. Minnesota staved off elimination and a sweep with a 2-0 win in Game 4, as Devan Dubnyk made 28 saves to record his first shutout since Dec. 20.

NBC’s coverage continues at 8 p.m. ET as the Rangers aim to eliminate the Canadiens with a Game 6 victory at Madison Square Garden. New York pushed Montreal to the brink of elimination with a 3-2 overtime win on Thursday night, capped by Mika Zibanejad’s first career playoff goal late in overtime.

NBCSN’s game coverage begins at 10:30 p.m. ET, as the Sharks host the Oilers in San Jose and hope to force a Game 7 in Edmonton. The Oilers took a 3-2 series lead on Thursday night, as David Desharnais scored his first goal of the playoffs late in overtime to give Edmonton a 4-3 win in Game 5.

SUNDAY, APRIL 23

If Boston wins Game 5 tonight, NBC will present coverage of Game 6 between the Senators and Bruins from TD Garden in Boston on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. NBCSN will televise Game 6 of Capitals-Maple Leafs from Toronto on Sunday night at 7 p.m. ET.

NBC Sports Group’s Emmy-Award winning ‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst Pierre McGuire began his marathon first-round broadcast schedule on Wednesday in Pittsburgh with Game 1 of the Blue Jackets-Penguins series. McGuire is slated to serve as an analyst for 11 games in 11 days to begin the postseason, with more games likely added to that run as series continue. His schedule will be comprised of six different cities and four different series. *Note – schedule is subject to change

Date

Coverage

Travel

Wed., April 12

Game 1 – (3) Columbus at (2) Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh > Chicago

Thurs., April 13

Game 1 – (WC2) Nashville at (1) Chicago

Chicago > St. Paul

Fri., April 14

Game 2 – (3) St. Louis at (2) Minnesota

St. Paul > Chicago

Sat., April 15

Game 2 – (WC2) Nashville at (1) Chicago

Chicago > St. Louis

Sun., April 16

Game 3 – (2) Minnesota at (3) St. Louis

St. Louis > Boston

Mon., April 17

Game 3 – (2) Ottawa at (3) Boston

Boston > Columbus

Tues., April 18

Game 4 – (2) Pittsburgh at (3) Columbus

Columbus > St. Louis

Wed., April 19

Game 4 – (2) Minnesota at (3) St. Louis

St. Louis > Montreal

Thurs., April 20

Game 5 – (WC1) N.Y. Rangers at (1) Montreal

Montreal > Washington

Fri., April 21

Game 5 – (WC2) Toronto at (1) Washington

Washington > New York

Sat., April 22

Game 6 – (1) Montreal at (WC1) N.Y. Rangers

TBA

COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL COVERAGE

Through the NBC Sports Regional Networks, comprehensive coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs will be provided daily via NBC Sports Regional Networks, available in more than 50 million U.S. households. NBC Sports Regional Networks serve the hometown fans of the Chicago Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins and the Washington Capitals, with first-round game coverage, pre- and post-game shows, and extensive on-line coverage via CSN’s team of NHL Insiders.

For teams that advance past the first round, NBC Sports Regional Networks will deliver extensive pre- and post-game coverage as well as breaking news and analysis throughout each team’s playoff run.

NBCSPORTS.COM & NBC SPORTS APP

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will stream all Stanley Cup Playoff games to desktops, tablets, and connected TVs. The NBC Sports app will stream coverage via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value to their subscription service, and making high-quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. Powered by Playmaker Media, the NBC Sports app is available on Apple iOS, Android and select Samsung devices, as well as on Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Win10, and Xbox.